help for hospitalised dad!

chezmck

Hi all, i've been reading through the threads and cant see quite what i'm looking for so hopefully somebody can assist.
i'll keep it as short as possible.......
my dad was admitted to hospital little over 3 weeks ago and has deterioated quickly and is in intensive care and without going into the ins and outs is basically in a coma he is unresponsive and could be for months. his last opportunity to speak with me was to ask me to pay his rent which was fine i could cover a couple of weeks council rent short term. i havnt paid them i instead asked them to put a note on the system explaining why no payment has been made and left my details for them to contact me if they require anything etc. i thought that at some point his work will pay statutory sick pay and he would qualify for a little housing benefit/council tax. i've contacted all other bill providers to inform and some of them i have paid like credit cards minimum payment kind of thing (had feeling this would be easier in the long term than looking for a heart or understanding from them!!)
so i think i have everything covered his work have been great and very accomodating with me and will chat to them and find out when stat sick pay starts. i guess the crux of my question (for now but sure more will pop up) can i apply for him for hb/ctb without his consent as he was unable to give/know he'd need me to?

hippygran

Tricky one this.

When my dad had his stroke, he was able to give me all his PIN numbers and full details of all his bills initially.

He then developed vascular dementia, so it became a long term thing.

I was trying to sort his financial affairs out (ie give people money), but found that in the main companies he was making regular payments too, were down right obstructive, quoting the data protection act at me, insisting on written authority, (not possible as his dementia worsened), and in some cases insisting on power of attorney. (Looked in to this, and cost was approx £1000, money I didn't have spare and neither did dad).

This went on for over 12 months, and in some cases debts were wiped off, rather than disclose an amount to me. This was water rates - two bills received, one for about £9, one for almost £200. I only wanted them to confirm that he needed to clear the £9, but I was assuming the large bill was next years, and he wouldn't be liable for that as the house had gone. They wouldn't tell me but 'wiped' off the remaining debt!

The only department that was even slightly helpful was the council. They were actually very good. So, if I were you, I would write to them immediately explaining the situation, and asking them about the benefit situation, should your dad need to claim. There may be some way they could back date a claim? If at all possible I would also ask the hospital consultant/doctor in charge of your dad's care to sign a document that your father is not currently able to deal with these things himself. I would then make copies of this letter for future use.

Wishing you and your dad all the best X

chezmck

thanks for your reply, you've been down the road i kind of foresee. i have access to all the paperwork so can work out who should be paid what but can see the day when things will need to be stopped like cable, phones etc and know i dont have the contract with them (though they have been happy to take my card payments this month) so looked in to power of attourney route and no i cant neither can dad afford that.
i've taken copies of his sick notes from the hospital so should i need to 'prove' the situation i have a little evidence. hopefully i'm being way to organised and efficient and not much more will be done before he wakes and gives me his pin or instructions to a bank.
thnkas again and for your good wishes
x

MrsManda

If he's eligible for SSP he should have been receiving it from the point he'd been sick for 4 days in a row (inc weekends and bank holidays).
This is £79.15 a week.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_10018786

It may be worth seeing if you can make an application through the Court of Protection to get temporary control of his accounts.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Mentalcapacityandthelaw/UsingtheCourtofProtection/DG_176210

Many hospitals have CAB offices on site who are used to dealing with the kinds of issues which you are facing. Find out whether the hospital your dad is in has a CAB office and if so go and see them.
If not ask the ICU staff whether they have any information which may be of help as again they'll be used to these issues coming up. Also speak to PALS - found in all hospitals I think.

Definitely speak to his local council about what's going on and also speak to his LL to keep him informed and see if you can negoiate a temporary stop on his rent/or at least come to an understanding about arrears whilst your dads affairs get sorted.

I hope your father recovers soon.

chezmck

thanks for your reply, that should certainly keep me occupied for a wee while looking in to all your suggestions.
thanks again for info and good wishes.
x

MrsManda

Just for future reference, if he's not eligible for SSP either now or later then he can claim ESA.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/index.htm